Ear-ring



(No Model.)

' G. W. WAS'HBURN.

Ear Ring.

No. 238,318. Patented March 1, 18181.

I //vrE)v 70 I ".PElERS. PHOTO LITNUGRAPMER. WASHINGTON, D, 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. \IVASHBURN, OF WEST; NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK.

EAR-RING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 238,318, dated March 1, 1881.

Application filed October 30, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WASH- BURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at West New Brighton, in the county of Richmond, New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ear-Rings, of which the following is a specification.

In the, accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are side views of an ear-ring or carro jewel enlarged, illustrating this invention, the

same being shown in Fig. 1 closed, as when worn, and in Fig. 2 opened, as for removal from the ear; and Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, a front view and a top view of the jewelsetting which forms part of the pendant shown ring is worn.

As hitherto constructed, the pendant of an ear-ring has been attached to the ear-wire by means of a ring soldered to one of the cramps that hold the jewel, the said ring projecting outward from the said cramp, and being linked with a similar projecting ring soldered to the ear-wire. Thus two projecting rings are interposed between the pendant and the lobe of the ear, preventing the pendant resting in actual or apparent contact with the lobe, which lastmentioned condition is a desideratum among ladies of fashion.

I overcome the above-stated disadvantage by substituting for the ring, usually fastened to and projecting from one of the before-mentioned cramps of the pendant, a straight or slightly-curved bar, placed between two adjoining cramps, at right angle to the same, the said bar projecting slightly or not at all beyond the outer circumference of the pendant,

and each end of the said bar being soldered to its respective cramp. I thus bring the jewel in its setting as much nearer the lobe of the ear as the diameter of the ring for which (N 0 model.)

the said bar is a substitute, as the pendant is supported by the said bar passing through the ring attached to the ear-wire.

In order to have the ear-wire small and unnoticeable I construct it in two parts, the said parts being connected by a hinge-joint, which readily permits the ear-wire to be opened and the ear-ring attached to the ear, renderin g unnecessary the considerable bending now unavoidable with small ear-rings, which bending soon breaks the ear-wire, and causes annoyance and expense.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicatecorrespondin g parts, 9 is the jewel-setting, which constitutes the metallic part of the pendant of the ear-ring. f is the above-described bar. b is the hingejoint connecting the two parts a and d, which, together, form the ear-wire of the ear-rin g. c is the ring on the ear-wire through which passes the aforesaid bar to support the pendant. the upper end of the ear-wire when. the latter is closed.

While the ear-ring is worn the pendant is supported close beneath the lobe of the ear, but so as to swing freely, as indicated in Fig. l, and the two solder-joints which attach the bar f render its connection very secure.

In removing the ear-rin g from the ear, the lower end of the hook-shaped main part or hook at of the ear-Wire is sprung out of the catch 0, and the joint I) then operates to permit the catch end of the loop formed by the ear-wire to be opened farther in the same direction, to the extent indicated in Fig. 2, so as to free the lobe of the ear readily. The joint I) is constructed with a transverse horizontal axis in order to afford this movement. It is also constructed with a stop to limit this movement in order that the hook may be sprung into catch. so as to be securely retained by its own elasticity, and the latter is preserved,'together with theshape and strength of the hook, by relieving the wire from strain by means of said joint.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an ear-ring, a pendent jewelsetting,

0 is the catch of the ear-ring that secures g, provided with a connecting-bar, f, between joint affords an additional movement-without two of its cramps, substantially as herein dcstrain in the same plane, as specified, for the scribed, for the purpose set forth. purpose set forth.

2. In an ear-ring composed of an ear-wire In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5 and a pendant, the within-described jointed my hand and seal in the presence of two sub- 1 5 ear-wire, composed of two parts united by a scribing witnesses.

11in ge-j oint having atransverse horizontal axis, GEORGE W; WASHBURN. [L. s.] and provided with the customary catch, 0, on Witnesses: one of the parts, the other part being adapted ADDISON W. WOODHULL,

10 to spring into and out of catch, while said 1 CHARLES G. LEWIS. 

